Art of producing moving pictures



H. K. SANDELL.

ART OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, l9l9- Pawnted June 14, 1921v dll,

mm m

H. K. SANDELL.

ART OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY22,1919- Patented June 14, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MW NW II HTIIJ IIVI/M I H. K. SANDELL.

ART OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. 1919. 1,381,849. Patented June 14, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. K. SANDELL.

ART OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, I919;

Patented June 14, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- 17206722 07? E727" IdandeZZ UNITED STATES PATENT orrics. A

HENRY K. SANDEIJL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O EEBIEBT S. MILLS, OI

- cnrcaeo,

ILLINOIS.

ART OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES.

Application filed Kay 22,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HE'NRY K. SANDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 221 South Green street, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in the Art of Producing Moving ictures, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus and means for the production of moving pictures, and more particularly to means and mechanism for this purpose wherein a sequence of pictures intended for successive reproduction is arranged in a. continuous spiral upon a disk preferably of flexible transparent material. The invention will be clearly understood from the following description of a speclfic embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings,

I Figure 1 is a side elevatlon of the projecting mechanism and the means for operating the same;

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation upon an enlarged scale of a portion of the projecting mechanism, illustrating'its coiiperation with the picture disk and its support;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fi 2' igj 4 is a section on, the vertical plane ofline4-4of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drlving mechanism of the device, viewed from above with the projecting mechanism removed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective new of the operatin lever;

Fig. 8 is a section of the drive shaft illustrating the cooperation therewith of the operating lever;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the picture disk;

Fig. 10 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the picture disk, illustrating the cooperation of the projecting mechanism therewith;

And Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the pictures 15 to be projected are arranged int heir proper succession 1n the turns of a spiral upon a disk 16, preferably formed of thin transparent material such as celluloid or the like. For a purpose here- Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 14, 1921. 1919. Serial m5. 298,961.

inafter described, this disk is formed with a narrow groove, likewise in the form of a spiral and which separates the spiral turns of the se uence of pictures. This groove is prefera ly V-shaped in cross section, as llustrated in Fig. 11. At regular intervals in the groove 17, and in line with the correpondlngedges of the successive pictures thereupon, projections 18 are provided and directly below these projections, on the unefi'ected is mounted upon a suitable table or standard 20, in which an openin 21 is provided to permit the passage an movement of the motor mechanism of the apparatus. A suitable source of light 22 is provided below the plane of the table or support. 20', being attached to a depending lug 23 provided on the supporting frame 24 for the driving mechanism of the device, this frame being suitably attached to the support 20. A concave reflector 25, likewise attached to a depending lug 26 of the supporting frame 24, is positioned below the light source 22 in such manner that all light emitted therefrom is caused to pass upwardly through the opening 21 in the support 20.

As a support for the picture disk 16 during projection, a flat, horizontal table 27 of transparent material such as glass, vided above the support or table 20.

is prohis transparent table is mounted. upon a. rotaand the means whereby it is accomplished will be hereinafter described. 7

The apparatus for the projection of the image from the picture on the continuous moving picture disk is mounted upon a ertically movable arm 29 pivoted at 30 to a rigid support 31 mounted upon the table 20. This arm 29 extends over the transparent table 27 and the disk 15 mounted thereupon. At its outer extremity it is bifurcated, one branch of the arm extending downwardly and the other upwardly as W111 hereinafter be more fully escribed. The downwardly extending arm 30 is enlarged at its lowermost portion32 and is provided at the forward most point ofthe enlarged portion with a stud-bearing 33, upon which is mounted a guide wheel 34. The periphery of this guide wheel is beveled to a V -shaped configuration and is provided with indentations corresponding to the projection 18 in the groove 17 of the picture disk 16, and is thus adapted to travel in the groove. At the rear of the enlarged portion 32 of the downwardly projecting arm 30 an outwardly projecting pin 35 is provided From a point intermediate of the length of the arm 29, but near its forward end,

a'bar 37 is suspended by means of link 36,

to which bar the lens barrel 38 containing the projecting lenses 39 is attached by suitable clamping means 40. This bar-37 passes through a guide slot 41 suitably provided on a lug 42 depending from the arm 29, and a continual pull in a rearward directlon is exerted upon the bar 37 by the spring 43 attached to the end of said bar and to the arm 29. At its forward end the bar is provided with a downwardly projecting finger 44, which enters the groove 17 in the continuously traveling disk 16, the end of the finger being adapted to engage the projection 18 in said groove. The lower end of the lens barrel 38 is square or rectangular in form, the size thereof corresponding exactly to the size of the individual pictures 15 on the disk 16. To the end of the lens barrel is likewise attached an opaque shield 45 which extends forwardly and rearwardly from said barrel and completely covers the pictures on the disk 16 preceding and succeeding the one below the opening ofthe lens barrel. The relative positions of the finger 44 and the lens barrel 38 are such that when the end of the finger 44 is engaged one of the projections 18 in the groove of the picture disk, the opening in the lens barrel is directly above one of the pictures 15 on the disk.

The finger 44 is likewise provided with a stud-bearing 46, on which is mounted a rectangularly bent arm 47, to which is attached a round shield or opaque shutter 48. The arm 47 is likewise provided with an in tegral cam portion 49 and limiting pin 50 which is engaged by the cam in one position of the arm 47 is provided on the finger 44. A bent leaf spring 51 is attached to the arm 47 and bears against the clamping member 40 of the lens barrel, thereby tending to force the arm away from said barrel to such a position that the shutter 48 attached to the arm completely uncovers the lens barrel 38. I

In operating the device, the lens barrel and its supporting bar 37 being in the p051- tion shown in Fig. 2, the continuous movement of the disk 16 in the direction of the arrow will cause a corresponding movement of the bar 37 with the lens barrel. The lens barrel being positioned directly over one of the pictures on the disk, the two will move together for a definite period. As the bar 37 advances the cam 49 of the shutter arm 47 will enga e the pin 35 and will ride upon said pin. he cam surface of the member 49 is so formed that during the first portion of its movements in engagement with pin 35, it will cause the arm 47 to swing upon its bearing 46 and bring the shutter 48 into position to close or cover the lens barrel 38. As the arm 37 continues its forward movement the pin 35 will then cause the entire arm to be lifted until the extremity of the finger 44 clears the projection 18 in the groove 17 of the disk with which said finger is in engagement. The spring 43 will then draw the bar 37 back together with the lens barrel until the finger 44 engages the succeeding projection 18, the lens barrel then covering the succeeding picture on the disk and a spring 51 causing the shutter 48 to clear or uncover the opening of the lens barrel.

In order to provide for the horizontal projection of the light rays issuing from the lens, the upwardly projecting branch 31 of the supporting arm 29 carries a mirror or reflector 51 in a plane at an angle of 45 to the plane of the disk 16, and positioned directly above the lens barrel 38 so that all light rays issuing therefrom are projected in a general horizontal direction to be re ceived by any suitable screen. Inasmuch as the lens moves with the picture being projected, the movement of the image will be of the same order as the movement of the original picture itself, and Where suitable dimensions are selected for the latter, will not be sulficient to cause confusion or distortion of the image. In order to compensate to some extent for this movement, however, the point of attachment of the link 36 to the supporting arm 29 is made adjustable in a horizontal direction. The link 36 is pivotally attached to a slotted link 52,

through the slot in which passesa fixed pin 53 and a headed screw 54. On loosening the screw 54, it is readily apparent thatv the link 52 may be moved in a horizontal direction and the sup ort of the links 36 may be adjusted as desired. With the relative adjustment of the points of support of the link 36 and arm 29 and of its point of attachment to the bar 37 as shown in Fig. 2, the forward movements of the bar 37 will be accompanied by a like downward movement of its rear end, resulting in a backward in clinationof the lens barrel 38 relative to the disk 16, which inclination, taking place simultaneously with the forward movement of the lens barrel and disk, will tend to compensate to a greater or less extent for the movements of the image projected upon the screen. It is furthermore to be noted that if the disk 16 be in any way warped or bent, the entire projecting device and all of its elements will at all times retain their relative positions with respect tothe individual picture being projected, and consequently there will at no time be 'an exaggeration 0r magnification of errors such as would result from a relative movement between the disk and the lens or projecting mechanism.

In order to bring the successive pictures in the spiral turns of the disk 16 into their proper positions under the lens barrel 38, means are provided whereby a rotary movement and a rectilinear movement are simultaneously imparted to the shaft 28 upon which the transparent supportin table 27 for the picture d1sk is mounted. his shaft 28 is mounted in suitable bearings 53, 53' in a sliding carrier 54 which is mounted to slide freely upon a cylindrical rOd 55, and a threaded drive shaft 56. The connection of the carrier 54 to the drive shaft 56 is by means of a fork or yoke having spaced members 57, 58, between which is fitted a slidable cylindrical collar 59 provided with a worm gear 61 meshing with the gear 62 fixed to the shaft 28. The collar 59 is splined to the drive shaft 56 so that rotary movements imparted to the latter are transmitted to the gear 62 and to the table shaft 28. The fork member 58 of the support 54 is provided with a rojectin lug 63 to which is pivotally attac ed a be l-crank lever 64, one arm 65 thereof being provided with a segmental nut 66 which, in normal position of the bell-crank lever, engages and meshes with the screw threads provided on the drive shaft 56. To retain the bell-crank lever in its normal position a spring 67 is provided which acts constantl 1 upon an arm 68 projecting from the bel crank lever. Suitable means may be provided for driving the shaft 56, such means being illustrated as the hand crank 69.

It is readily apparent that when the bellcrank lever 64 is manipulated to release the engagement of the segmental nut 66 with the threads of drive shaft 56, the entire carrier 54 may be moved to any desired position. On returning the lever to its normal position and rotating the drive shaft 56, the table shaft 28 will be rotated and will simultane ously be moved in a rectilinear direction at a rate depending upon the pitch of the thread on shaft 56. The pitch of these threads is so calculated that in one rotation of the table shaft 28 it will be moved rectilinearly the distance necessary to bring pic- In order to properly position the dis I upon the table the arm 29, together with the entire projecting mechanism above the table 27 ma be raised rotating about the pivot 30. he picture disk being properly positioned with the projecting end of the shaft 28 passing through the central aperture in the disk, the lever 64 is operated to disengage the carrier from the drive-shaft 56 and i the carrier, together with the table shaft 28 and the table 27, is moved to such a position that the first of the sequence of the pictures upon the disk 16 is substantially below the projecting lens barrel. The nut 66 on the end of the arm 65 of the bell crank lever is then permitted to reengage the drive shaft, which is rotated at a rate of speed varying in such manner that the portion of the disk un; der the lens has a constant linear velocity. The source of light being directly below 'the lens barrel, the rays of light passing therefrom will pass through the picture to be exhibited and the lenses, causing the picture to be projected upon a suitable screen. The operation of the various projecting elements in effecting the successive projection of the pic: ture upon the continuous moving plate will be clearly understood from the above description of the apparatus.

Although I have described my invention in. connection with a specific example thereof, I do not intend it to be limited b the details of construction of the embodiment set forth, as it will be readily apparent that these details may be greatly varied and are accordingly not to be construed as limitations upon my invention excepting so far as included in the accompanying claims.

I claim: I

1. As an article of manufacture, a transparent plate havin a sequence of pictures or designs arrange thereupon to form the turns of a spiral and having a spiral groove formed therein, the turns of said groove being disposed between the turns of the spiral formed by the pictures.

2. As an article of manufacture, a transparent disk having a spiral groove formed therein, a sequence of pictures or designs arranged upon said disk in a spiral between the turns of the spiral groove, and teeth or projections in said groove alined with corresponding edges of the successive pictures or designs.

3. As an article of manufacture, a transparent disk having a spiral groove formed therein, a sequence of pictures or designs arranged upon said disk in the turns of a spiral between the turns of the spiral groove, projections in said groove on one side of containing containin the disk and indentations in said groove on the other side of said disk and directly opposite said projections and corresponding in form therewith. q

4. In a process of projectin moving pictures wherein a lens is move in coordination with a picture or design continuously -means adapted to intermittent y engage the engaging means on the transparency to cause movement of the lens. a

6. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency a sequence of pictures and provided wit engaging projections in identical relation with the successive pictures of the se uence, a lens, a movable lens support and a nger projecting from said lens support to engage the projections on the transparency and thereby cause movement of the lens therewith v r 7 In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency a sequence of pictures and provided wit engaging projections in identical relation with the successive pictures of the sequence,,a lens, a movable lens support, a finger projecting from said lens support to engage the pro ections on the transparency and thereby cause movement of the lens therewith, and means of releasi said finger from engagement with the projections and efl'ecting a reverse movement of the lens support. 7 8. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency containing a sequence of pictures and provided with engaging projections in identical relation with the successive pictures of the sequence, a lens, a lens support suspended above said transparency, a finger pro ecting from said lens support to engage the projections on the transparency and thereby cause movement of the lens therewith, means for releasing the finger from engagement with the projections and a spring acting upon the lens support to move it in the reverse direction.

9. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency containing a sequence of pictures and provided with engaging projections in identical relation with the successive ictures of the sequence, a lens, a movable ens support, a

finger projecting from the lens support to engage the projections on the transparency and thereby cause movement of the lens therewith, a relatively stationary pin, means cooperatmg with. the lens support and with said pin to raise the lens support upon its arrival at a predetermined position and .thereb release the finger from engagement with t e projectionsiland means for moving the lens support and thereby release the fingerfrom engagement with the projections,-

and means for moving the lens support in the reverse direction.

11. In a movingpicture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency containing a sequence of pictures and provided with engaging means in identical relation with the successive pictures of the sequence, a lens, a lens supporthaving means adapted to intermittently engage the engaging means of the transparency to cause movement of the lens, a shutter and means for moving said shutter to cover the lens when the lens reaches a predetermined position in its movement.

12. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency containing a sequence of plctures and provided with engaging means in identical relation with the successive pictures of the sequence, a lens, a lens support having means adapted to intermittently engage the engaging means of the trans arency to cause movement of the lens, a utter, a movable support for said shutter mounted 'on the lens support, and means for movin said shutter support to cover the lens wit the shutter when the lens reaches a predetermined position in its movement.

13. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency containing a sequence of pictures and provided with engaging projections the sequence,

bination, a transparency containing a se-. quence of pictures, means for moving said transparency in a plane, a lens movable with said transparency for a limited distance, and means for deflecting the lens relative to the transparency during its movement therewith opposite the direction of said movement.

15. In a moving picture. machine, in combination,, a transparency containing a sequence of pictures, means for moving said transparency in a plane, a lens, a supporting bar for said lens and means for moving said bar together with said lens for a limited distance in coordination with the transparency, and for simultaneously varying the angular relation of said bar to the transparency to cause a deflection of the lens.

16. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency containing a sequence of pictures, a

relatively stationary support above said transparency, a link pivoted to said support arm, a lens supporting bar pivotally attached to said link, a lens mounted upon said supporting bar and means for causing said bar to move with the transparency for a limited distance.

17. In a moving picturemachine, in combination, a continuously moving tra'nspar-.

ency containing a sequence of pictures, and

in identical relation with the successive pictures of a supporting arm, a lens support oscillatably suspended from said arm by a single point, a finger projecting from said lens support to engage the projections on the transparency and thereby cause movement of the lens therewith and a lens mounted on said lens support between the finger and the point of suspension of the support.

18. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transporency containing a sequence of pictures, and

provided with engaging projections in identical relation with the successive pictures of the sequence, a relatively stationary support, 3. link pivotally, suspended from said support, a lens support pivotally connected to said link, a finger projecting from said lens support to engage the projections on the transparency and thereby cause movement of the lens support, and a lensLmounted on said lens support between said finger and the poilpt of connection of the support to' the 19. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving transparency containing a sequence of pictures and provided with engaging projections in identical relation with the successive pictures of the sequence, a lens, a movable lens support, a finger projecting from the lens support to engage the projections on the transparency and thereby cause movement of the lens therewith, a lever pivotally mounted on the lens support and carrying a shutter, said lever being provided with an integral cam portion, and a relatively stationary pin adapted to engage the cam portion of said lever to cause the shutter to cover the lens when the lens support reaches a predetermined position, and to raise the lens support at a further predetermined position to thereby release the finger from engagement with the projections on the transparency, and means for moving the lens support in the reverse direction.

20. In a moving picture machine, in comb1nat1on,a moving transparency, a pivotally mounted arm extending. over said transparency, a guide roller mounted on said arm and enga 'ng said transparency, and a lens supporte on said arm.

. 21. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a moving transparency provided with a continuous groove, a pivotally over said transparmounted arm extendin ency, and a guide rol er mounted on said arm and resting in said groove.

22. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a moving transparency,a pivotally mounted arm extending over said transpar-' ency, a guide roller mounted on said arm and resting on said transparency, and a lens movably supported on said arm above said transparency.

23. In a moving picture machine, in com bination, a moving transparency having a groove formed therein, a pivota mounted arm extending over said transparency, a guide roller mounted on said arm and engaging insaid groove, a lens support suspended from said arm and having a projection engagin in the groove of the transparency and a ens mounted on said lens support.

24. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a moving transparency provided with a groove and spaced projections in said groove, a pivotally mounted arm extending over said transparenc a guide roller mounted on said arm an resting in said groove, said roller being provided with indentations corresponding to the projections in the grooves, a lens support suspended from the arm and carrying a lens, said lens support being provided with a fingerentering the groove in the transparency, said finger being engaged by the pro ections in the groove to e ect movement of the lens support in one direction and means for disengaging the lens support and moving it in the reverse direction.

25. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a disk transparency containing a sequence of pictures, a light source adapted to illuminate individual pictures of said sequence,,a lens, the transparency being befor continuously moving t e disk transparency to permit the successive pictures of tures of the said sequence, a lens,

containing a sequence of pictures,

the sequence before the light source to be illuminated thereby, and means for moving the lens in coordination with the transparency for substantially the length of the picture.

26. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a horizontal disk transparency alight source adapted to illuminate individual picthe transparency intersecting the vertical line between the lens and the light source, means for continuously moving the disk transparency to permit the successive pictures of the sequence before the light source to be illuminated thereby, means for moving the lens in coordination with the transparency for substantially the length of a picture, and means for deflecting the rays of light issuing from the lens on a substantially horizontal path.

27. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a horizontal disk transparency containing a sequence of pictures, a light source ada ted to illuminate individual pictures of said sequence, a lens, the transparency intersecting the vertical line between the lens and the-light source, means for continuously moving the disk transparency to permit the successive pictures of the sequence before the light source to be illuminated thereby, means for deflecting the rays of light issuing from the lens on a substantially horizontal path, and means for moving the lens in a horizontal plane in 0061"- dination with the transparency for substantially the length of a picture and simultaneously deflecting the lens in a direction opposite to its direction of movement.

28. In a moving picture machine, in combination, a continuously moving member containing a sequence of pictures, means for projecting individual pictures of said sequence in substantially stationary position,

and means carried by said picture containing member to actuate said prpgecting means. HENRY SANDELL. 

